Metso has secured an order to supply advanced filtration technology for Lloyds Metals & Energy’s iron ore concentrate filtration plants at Ghugus, Manikgarh and Konsari in Maharashtra, central India. The equipment will serve Lloyds’ integrated value chain spanning iron ore mining through to sponge iron production, targeting drier concentrate and reduced tailings moisture for downstream handling and pelletising. For process engineers, the upgrade signals tighter water balance control and potential gains in filtration throughput and energy use across three key concentrator hubs.

SKF is pushing condition-based maintenance in Australian mines by combining bearing remanufacturing, vibration and temperature monitoring, and root-cause failure analysis on critical assets such as conveyors and grinding mills. Using connected sensors feeding into its cloud-based diagnostics platforms, SKF engineers can flag lubrication issues, misalignment and contamination early, then specify upgraded seals, housings or heat-treated bearing steels tailored to each duty. The approach extends bearing service life, cuts unplanned stoppages and allows mines to defer capex on large rotating equipment while maintaining throughput.

Sandvik’s first MC431 continuous miner for Australia has been ordered as part of the company’s expansion of its mechanical cutting portfolio, targeting hard-rock and high-ash seams where drill-and-blast is constrained. The MC431 is designed for high cutting forces in confined headings, integrating a heavy-duty cutter boom, onboard bolting capability and advanced automation-ready controls compatible with Sandvik’s digital mining systems. For mine planners and geotechnical teams, the unit signals greater scope for continuous development in rock conditions previously considered marginal for mechanical miners, with potential impacts on support design, ventilation and scheduling.